Smut-machine.



C. McKINNEY.

SMUT MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29. 1915.

Patented Jan. 9, 1917.

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C. McKlNNEY. smur MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, !9l5.

1,21 1,78%, Patented Jan. 9, 1917.

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CLARENCE MGKINNEY, OF AMHERST, SOUTH DAKOTA.

SIVIUT-MAGHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 11917.

Application filed June 29, 1915. Serial No. 37,081.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE MCKINNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Amherst, in the county of Marshall and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Smut- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a machine for cleaning grain and the invention relates more particularly to apparatus for destroying smut and other disease germs which impair the value of wheat and grain generally.

The invention provides a machine which enables grain to be properly treated according to its condition and at the same time prevents oversaturation or too copious an application of the solution employed for destroying the disease germs. As is well known application of a surplus amount of' solution results in the grain absorbing an unnecessary amount of liquid thereby requiring a longer period in the after treatment for eliminating the excessive moisture.

The present invention provides an apparatus embodying a rotary drum, means for supplying the grain to be treated in regulated quantity to the drum, a tank for containing the chemical solution, and means for supplying such solution to the grain in variable quantity according to the condition of the grain and the nature of the disease germ to be destroyed.

With these and other objects in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple andpreferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the invention as claimed may be resorted to when desired.

Referring to the drawings,-Figure 1 is a perspective View of a smut-machine or grain treating apparatus embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical central longitudinal section thereof; Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modification.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and inclicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The machine embodies a suitable framework 1, which may be of any desired construction best adapted for supporting the working parts. Two tanks 2 and 3 are mounted upon the frame-work and are adapted to receive the grain to be treated and the chemical solution employed for treating the grain. The tank, or container, 2 is adapted to receive the grain in bulk and may be of any capacity or construction. The tank, or container, 3 is designed to receive the chemical solution or grain treating agent for destroying the smut germs or other germs of disease to be destroyed. A drum l is mounted upon the frame 1, preferably below the tanks, or containers 2 and 3, and is adapted to have a rotary movement imparted thereto. This drum is so disposed that its lowest portion inclines to the hori Zontal, the purpose being to automatically feed the grain therethrough by gravitative action. The drum may be rotated at any speed and in any desired way and for convenience and simplicity of illustration a crank 5 is shown, the same being attached to a shaft 6, which extends centrally through the drum and is mounted at its ends in suitable bearings provided upon the frame 1. The drum is supported upon the shaft 6 in any manner. As shown rods 7 pass transversely through openings formed in the shaft 6 and are connected at their ends to opposite sides of the drum 4. Tubes 8 mounted upon'end portions of the rod 7 extend between the shaft 6 and sides of the drum n and constitute spacers to hold the drum in a given position with reference to the shaft 6. The grain to be treated and the chemical solution or agent for treating the grain are supplied to one end of the drum and the two are thoroughly agitated in the passage of the grain through the drum, thereby causing every part of the grain to be dampened in a manner to destroy the smut or disease germ. The grain and chemical solution or treating agent are supplied to the drum in variable quantity to insure effective treatment and destruction of the disease germ.

A spout 9 connects the lower end of the container 2 with the receiving end of the drum 4 so as to direct the grain from the receptacle2 into the drum. The receiving end 'of the spout 9 is formed with a plurality of ings 12' which are adapted to register with the outlets 10. The slide 11 may be adjusted to completely out off the discharge of the grain or to regulate the effective size of the outlets and thereby control the delivery of' the grain and the supply thereof to the drum. The slide 11 projects through a side of the container or grain receptacle 2 so as to be conveniently operated.

A pipe 13 is connectedat one end with the tank 3 and its opposite end is provided with a hooked terminal which extends into the spout 9 preferably near the top thereof so as to deliver the solution or grain treating agent to the drum at a point to mix with the grain and dampen the same. The pipe 13 is provided in its length with a suitable valve 14 by means of which the delivery of the chemical solution may be regulatedto meet conditions and thereby prevent over dampening or saturation of the grain.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4c the drum l is made tapering throughout its length and it is arranged with its axis in horizontal position. The taper of the drum results in its lower portion inclining to the horizontal so that the grain automatically feeds through the drum by gravitative action. The grain is supplied to the smaller end of the drum as is also the chemical solution; The top of the frame 1 inclines throughout its length as does also the bottoms of the receptacle 2- and tank 3*. The spout 9 connects with the lower end of the receptacle 2 and the pipe 13 connects with the lower end of the tank 3 ing parts are substantially the same as hereinbefore described and operate in substantially the same manner.

By arranging the liquid conducting pipe 13 beneath the supporting frame and connectingthe opposite ends of the pipe to the liquid container and spout 9, in the manner The remainanchoring the liquid container upon the in- 7 clined top of the supporting frame and as a means for holding the large end of the spout within the receiving end of the drum. This pipe connection also forms in effect a brace for the drum. V V

I The grain to be treated is placed in the re ceptacle 2 or 2' and is delivered therefrom in variable quantity by means of the slide 11 and is directed into the receiving end of the drum by means of the spout 9. The chemical solution or agent for treating the grain to destroy the smut or other disease germ is supplied to the grain in variable quantity by means of the pipe 13. The grain and agent enter the receiving end of the drum by way of the spout 9 and are thoroughly agitated by the rotary movement imparted to such drum, the speed at which the drum is rotated being such as to insure a thorough distribution of the chemical solution to cause every part of the kernels of the grain to be dampened thereby destroying the smut or other disease germ to be eliminated. 7

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is In an apparatus of the class described, a supporting frame including a top, a drum mounted for rotation beneath the top and I r independent thereof, a spout having an upper intake end fitted through said top and having a lower discharge end fitting within the intake end of the drum, a grain container mounted upon said top and arranged to discharge into said spout, a liquid container also mounted upon the top, a liquid conducting pipe arranged beneath the top and having one. end thereof extending' through said top and through the bottom of the liquid container and its other end provided with a hooked terminal piercing the spout at the receiving end of the drum and. communicating with the interior thereof, and a valve arranged in the liquid conducting pipe for controlling the flow of liquid from the container to the drum. 7 V

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CLARENCE MoKINNEY. as

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent Washington, D. G. r 

